Nestor Plasencia – Humo Jaguar 2011

Back in April, I received an e-mail for the Cigar Advisor Magazine online. The issue contained an introductory offer to the Judges Club for $19.99.  The Judges Club is a consumer/customer based panel that allows the consumer to to be the judge of the best cigars in each sampler.  The first sampler was based on price with three cigar in each of the following ranges: under $4,  under $7, under $10, and over $10.  The first sampler (Battle #1) was made up of the following smokes:

• Aging Room Small Batch M356 Major (6 ½ by 60)
• Camacho Corojo Diploma (5 by 50)
• Humo Jaguar Grande (6 by 60)
• J Fuego Origen Original (5 by 44)
• My Uzi Weighs A Ton Bait Fish (4 by 44)
• Padilla Miami Maduro Torpedo (6 ½ by 54)
• Perdomo Champagne Noir Robusto (5 by 54)
• Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary Toro (6 ½ by 52)
• Schizo Sixty (6 by 60)
• Torano Loyal Robusto (5 by 56)
• Trinidad Paradox Churchill (7 by 57)
• Trocadero Honore (5 ¾ by 56)

Today, I have decided to check out the Humo Jaguar 2011.  All the manufacturers who attend the annual Honduran Cigar Festival blend a cigar specific for the festival and one cigar is chosen as the best. Nestor Plasencia claimed this title in 2011.  This cigar is readily available through online retailers.  The Humo Jaguar 2011 comes in three vitolas: Robusto (5 by 52), Corona Gorda (6 by 52), and Gigante or Grande (6 by 60). While not a go to size for me, I will be smoking the Gigante 6 by 60.

The Facts

Vitola: Gigante
Size: 6 by 60
Wrapper: Honduran Oscuro
Binder: Honduran – Talanga
Filler: Honduran – Cuban Seed Long-Filler
Pairing: Water
Smoke Time: Just under 2 hours

Pre-light

The Humu Jaguar has a rustic appeal.  Veins are all over the cigar but there are none above medium in size. The cigar has a velvety feel and is fairly firm with no soft spots.  However, under the band there is a crazy indention in this cigar. The color is mostly medium reddish brown with dark spots throughout.

The wrapper aroma is extremely earthy with some nutty and sweet notes. The nuttiness is similar to the shell of a peanut.  A minor pepper and tobacco notes are prevalent on the foot of the cigar.  What appears to be a triple cap has been applied rather sloppy.  Due to the larger ring gauge, I made a shallow cut on the cap of the cigar. A free draw delivers rich tobacco and clove flavors.

First Third

The 60 ring gauge foot took some time to light with my Zippo Z-Plus!. A triple flame would have come in handy when lighting up this puppy. Instantly, smooth and spicy smoke coats my mouth. The leather and earth flavors dominates the profile but not in a bad way.  In the background of the flavor profile some mineral-like flavors are peeking through, along with a sweet finish.  The leather flavor is something I anticipated knowing the Honduran origin.  Deep earthy notes and dark coffee comes forth on the retrohale, with additional spice and pepper. The first salt and pepper ash dropped at a half of an inch, but the second ash held to an inch.  The smoke production is decent but a long draw is required to pull the smoke down this six inch stick.  The Humo burn line is thick and wavy but isn’t getting too off path. Flavors are coming through medium/full and the strength is medium.

Middle Third

The flavors remain heavy and deep as I dive into the second third. Some enjoyable cocoa and coffee flavors have arrived and the earthy notes remain around.  The smoke production is now rockin. Tons of thick, dense smoke is billowing out of this Humo Jaguar Gingante. The black pepper on the retrohale is intense.  Some sweetness is still on the finish but quickly fades to a deep earth, almost dirt-like, flavor. I thought for sure I would be feeling some strength in the cigar by this point. So far so good.  While the strength is medium the cigar is still very flavorful.  The burn-line has almost completely corrected itself from the waviness early on.

Final Third

The band slides off with ease, giving way to the final third of the winner of the 2011 Honduran Cigar Festival.  A similar spice from the start of first third is back, warming my entire mouth.  I have not come across any harshness in the smoke thus far and the smoke remain cools.  A cocoa sweetness hits the front of the palate, but darker, earth flavors override it.  The dark flavors are heavy on my palate requiring a lot of water to keep a fresh palate between puffs.  The smoke is very meaty.  A mixture of earth, pepper, and saltiness reminds me of McCormick’s Montreal Steak Seasoning.  The burn-line is now razor sharp and not one touch-up was needed throughout this six inch Humo Jaguar.  The flavors are full at the conclusion of the final third and strength has shifted to the medium/full arena.

Wrap-up

The Humo Jaguar 2011 was super earthy.  Probably one of the most earthy cigars I have smoked or at least remember smoking.  But overall it was a very enjoyable stick. There were some subtle complexities but the fullness of the earth flavor overwhelmed the other enjoyable, more subtle notes. While I may not go out of my way to search down this stick, I would grab a single if I ever came across it or if it was included in another sampler like the one above. If you enjoy earthy cigars, this cigar will be right up your alley. Shoot,  12 cigars for $19.99 is a heck of steal and the offer is still available here. Grab the sampler and let us know what you think of the Humo Jaguar 2011.